AEBERSOLD CAMP REVIEW

[DocEash]

Hello everybody,

Im new to the forums but I'd like to offer a fresh perspective on what I thought was a sincere and thorough learning experience. For many years now the aebersold camps haave been a intensive, week long study of the concepts of jazz. This year, I had the pleasure of attending the second week of the camp with 400+ jazz instrumentalists. From the eager beginner to the honed professional, these camps offer a wonderful way to get away from the grind of work or school, and to experience a full week of breathtaking performances, lectures, and various other experiences of similar nature.

The camp itself brought out some of the hippest pro's on the scene at this moment. As far as sax players went, the real stars were eric alexander, jim snidero and don braden. These three guys really were on their game as they offered some breathtaking solos on their performances. Other guys who seriously rocked were dave hazeltine, jiim rotondi, and my fav trombonist conrad herwig.

So, if anybody went to the camp this year, I would love to hear your fellow thoughts, and ideas about how it went and what you learned

thanks for readin

the doc

[MS]

Hi Doc - I went three or four years ago and had a great time. It was almost sensory overload to spend up-close time with guys like that. The facilities are great, and a very friendly but respectful atmosphere that permeated the whole session, the facullty was very accesable and helpful. The large cross section of ages, interestest and abilities made an interesting and diverse learning environment. Five star rating from me. :D

[Hackbar]

My only experience with Jamey Aebersold was at an improv clinic he gave for the start of a school jazz festival we were having a while back, and it was a pretty great experience. I think I didn't quite understand what I was experiencing, considering I was in 7th grade at the time. :lol:

[Vortex]

Hmm... I might consider this. Where can I get more info on this camp?

[Phat Pat]

lol, Vortex look at your signature, Google yielded: http://www.jazzbooks.com/workshops/

[alsdiego]

Doc,

I also attended the second session this year. I second your comments. Awesome staff, very useful instruction, incredible concerts... I agree that Alexander and the others you mentioned were awesome, but also some of the "lesser knowns" were also incredible. My combo instructor was Steve Thomas, a trumpet player from the Chicago area. He did a rendition of Freddie Hubbard's "Up Jumped Spring" that absolutely knocked my socks off.

One other comment... many of us are not full-time professional musicians, and we live in a world very different day-to-day from the music life. After spending 15 hours a day totally immersed in jazz, I felt like I had visited a different planet, with its own rules, and its own perspective. Fascinating stuff! Makes me wonder what the "other road" (in music) might have been like.

[SaxyAcoustician]

I went for three years. Spent a week with Denis Diblasio, a week with Steve Allee, and a week with none other than Don Braden. Yeah, imagine that. Absolutely awesome. They'll tell you how it is: practice practice practice. And if you feel you've practiced enough, then practice more! There's no shortcut to jazz that's for sure. No shortcut to anything in life really, at least that's what I got out of it. There's no substitute for hard work.

[saxgirl9]

I went to the Aebersold camp - it was a great experience. Our combo rehearsed in the basement of the dining hall a couple of blocks down. The basement also happened to be the christmas decoration storage room, so we rehearsed in a freezing cold room filled with christmas trees. At the end, we took pictures hiding amongst them with our instruments.

Also, the year I was there was the year Eric Alexander and two other guys got mugged at gunpoint walking home from the dining hall. Another girl and I were walking back alone just an hour before that happened. It is kind of scary, but I am glad it was not us, even though it had to be someone at all.

The faculty at the camp was great and there were concerts every nite at dinner and then a real concert in the theatre, then after a jam session. So there were lots of opportunities to listen to great music, and play great music every night of the camp.

The camp is for all ages and ability, so if you haven't yet, I recommend you check it out!

[saxgirl9]

Hey everyone, I saw how popular this forum was and having been to the camp myself, I decided to write an article on it. Check it out if you are interested

http://www.teenjazz.com/articles/aebersoldcamp/default.html